About
St. Pius X Parish was established on June 7, 1955, by the Most Reverend William E. Cousins, Bishop of Peoria.
The site for the new parish was a 7½ acre weed-covered lot on which stood a dusty frame warehouse, affectionately known as the "old barn." St. Pius X Parish celebrated its first Mass in the old barn on June 19, 1955. Despite the leaky roof and sparrows in the ceiling noisily protesting the new occupants, the young congregation worshiped there for 7 years.
The genial, tenacious and persuasive Father Farrell won the hearts of his new flock and the parishioners joined their pastor in the enthusiastic development of this new parish.
In the spring of 1962, a Rock Island newspaper reported that "one of the most unique buildings in the world has begun to rise in Rock Island on the St. Pius X Catholic Church site." The architect was Ed Lerch. The cornerstone of the church was laid on April 22, 1963 by Msgr. Thomas J. Jordan, then the pastor of St. Pius X. The church was designed to keep the focus on Christ as the center of our worship.
The stained-glass windows of the Church are from Chartres, France. The picture of St. Pius X at the entrance of the Church and the two windows in the Sanctuary are formed from Art Glass.
Eighteen chipped chunk glass windows form the outer wall of the Church. These portray the life of Christ beginning with the Nativity and the Good Shepherd. The next 14 windows depict the Stations of the Cross.
Finally, we see His triumph over death in the Resurrection and the Coming of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles at Pentecost.
About St. Pius X - “The Saint of Our Times”
It is most fitting that in these modern times, our church has as its patron, St. Pius X, a modern saint. He was beatified on June 3, 1951, and canonized May 29, 1954, less than forty years after his death.
Guiseppe Sarto was born June 2, 1835, in the small village of Riese in northern Italy. His parents were farmers, and he was the second oldest child of a family of ten. In school, he was a bright boy with an unswerving desire for the priesthood. On September 18, 1858, at the age of twenty-three, he achieved his goal. In time, he was a Curate at Tombolo, a Pastor at Salzano, Chancellor of Treviso, Bishop of Mantua, and Cardinal Patriarch of Venice.
On August 4, 1903, he was elected to the Papacy to succeed the renowned Pope Leo XIII , and he took the name of Pope Pius X. His Calvary immediately began. Enemies of the Church were active everywhere, and Modernism was on the move. His program was “to restore all things in Christ,” so he denounced their errors and suggested counter-measures for his clergy. He even instituted a much needed reform in Church music.
His greatest work, however, was his reform in the matter of the Holy Eucharist. In answer to the effects of Jansenism, he affirmed that no one who had the right intention should be denied Holy Communion, and he specifically defined that right intention. Children were permitted to receive at the age of reason, which he fixed commonly as the age of seven years. He said, “Holy Communion is the shortest way to heaven. There are others: innocence, but that is for children; penance, but that causes dread; the most secure way, the easiest and the shortest, is the Holy Eucharist.” From his pronouncements have come Daily Communion, a sure remedy for the immorality of our times. His pontifical acts fill eight volumes of fine print, while the official documents of his pontificate number 3,322.
His last years were years of anguish and sorrow. In addition to the many enemies of the Church, anti-clerical factions sprang up in the Catholic countries of Europe. As early as 1911, he said, “I see a great war coming. God has laid His hand to a terrible scourge. The war is at our doors and 1914 will not pass until we see it.” Soon he saw it, with millions pitted against millions in bitter conflict and slaughter. It was more than he could bear. Physical infirmity and mental anguish overcame him gradually and, on August 20, 1914, at the age of seventy-nine he was dead.
Many miracles have been worked at his intercession, both before and after his death. In virtue of these, Pope Pius XII, declared him a saint in heaven. His miracles still continue. His altar is constantly crowded in St. Peter’s, where pilgrims come for Mass and Holy Communion at his shrine. There, he still continues to promote his program “to restore all things in Christ”. May we hope and pray for like blessings in our modern shrine, where a relic of him rests in our altar.
Timeline - Parish History
1947. As it became increasingly evident that Rock Island would grow, in particular, south of Eighteenth Avenue, Msgr. T. J. Jordan conceived the idea of a parish in South Rock Island, suggesting the present property to Bishop Schlarman.
1948. In 1948, a site for a new Rock Island Parish was chosen by the Most Rev. Joseph H. Schlarman, D.D., Bishop of Peoria; the Rt. Rev. Msgr. P. H. Durkin, P.A., Dean of the Rock Island Deanery; the Rt. Rev. Msgr. J. B. Reidy, Chancellor of Peoria; and, the Rev. Thomas J. Jordan, Pastor of Sacred Heart Church, Rock Island, Illinois.
1952. Mother Magdalen of the Sisters of the Humility of Mary, Ottumwa Heights, Iowa, through Mother Geraldine of Marycrest College, agreed to staff an eight-room school, starting in 1957.
1955. On June 8, 1955, St. Pius X Roman Catholic Parish was formally erected when the Most Rev. William E. Cousins, D.D., Bishop of Peoria, decreed its boundaries as Moline on the east, Rock River on the south, Twelfth Street on the west, and Eighteenth Avenue on the north. Bishop Cousins appointed as its Pastor the Rev. Edward M. Farrell of St. Louis Church, Princeton, Illinois. St. Pius X, the Pope of the Eucharist, was chosen as the Patron Saint of the new parish.
On Thursday, June 16, 1955, Father Farrell took over his new parish and received congratulations and keys from Monsignor Jordan of Sacred Heart Parish, Rock Island, Illinois.
On Sunday, June 19, 1955, Father Farrell offered the first Mass of St. Pius X Church in a warehouse formerly used to house equipment and materials for the Scheurmann Construction Co., which was developing this area. It rained heavily that morning, and those present will never forget the leaky roof and the chirping sparrows who objected to being displaced by people attending Mass. The Congregation on that morning consisted of 485 families from Sacred Heart, 180 from St. Joseph’s, those members of St. Paul’s who preferred the new Church rather than a territorial one, and some from St. Mary’s within the area. That afternoon, Samuel P. Durr, Michael D. Palmer and Peter C. Spaeth were the first members of the new parish to receive the Sacrament of Baptism.
Once the ground were cleared, the exterior of the structure was wood veneered. The interior walls of old St. Pius X Church were wood paneled, and a new altar and communion rail were constructed. Most of the labor was provided by parishioners.
In September, 1955, the first Altar & Rosary Society meeting was held, with Mrs. Harold Garrison presiding as President. Funds for the main altar were provided by the Altar and Rosary Society, who continue to maintain and care for it.
1957. In the summer of 1957, the Sisters of the Humility of Mary arrived, as promised, taking over the twelve-room school designed by Mr. William Bernbrock, Architect. To provide housing for the Sisters, a beautiful Convent was built, with room for 16 nuns. Mr. Ed Lerch was the architect. The Sisters of the Humility of Mary were most generous in their efforts to provide proper instructions, not only for the children of St. Pius School but also for children who, for various reasons, must attend public schools. Principal for six years (1957-1963) was Sister Eileen, M.A.; those associated with her were Mrs. Alice Carton, as well as Sisters Mary Andrew, Vincent Marie, Mary Eileen, Mary Joan, Alice Marie, Jean Marie, Mary St. Ann, Mary Alicia and Mary Camillus.
A Mothers’ Club was started to help in many ways and assist the Sisters in the development of the 702 students of St. Pius X school, with Mrs. John Moran serving as its first President. Mr. Thomas Wells was in charge of maintenance, as well as the bus.
The Council of Catholic Men was formed to coordinate the work of many organization of the new parish, with Francis Ortman as the first President. Other groups contributing to Lay Action were St. Vincent de Paul, Christian Family Movement, and the Legion of Mary.
St. Paul’s Rectory was sold, and Fathers Farrell and Weimer moved to this residence which had been remodeled for their use. Fate intervened at this point and Father Farrell suffered a series of heart attacked which forced him to St. Anthony’s Hospital and, finally, to resign from the parish. Rev. James P. Cullerton was added to the parish as Senior Assistant to administer the parish.
On December 4, 1957, Rt. Rev. Msgr. T. J. Jordan, Pastor of Sacred Heart Church, Rock Island, Illinois, was appointed Pastor to succeed Father Farrell.
1958. The Rectory was built in 1958 to meet the needs of the expanding parochial work, which contained a meeting room and two office rooms in the basement, in addition to two offices on the first floor.
1959. In 1959, four rooms and a basement hall were added to the School, for use as a temporary Church. In the meantime, drives were conducted to cover the years 1955-1958, 1958-1961 and 1961-1964, in order to provide the necessary funds for the swiftly growing parish.
1964. On February 18, 1964, the Most Reverend William E. Cousins, Archbishop of Milwaukee, formally congratulated Msgr. T. J. Jordan on the solemn dedication of the newly completed St. Pius X Church, “founded in faith and nurtured by work and sacrifice.”